Accused Hamilton bank robber indicted in attempted murder

HAMILTON -- A Philadelphia man accused of robbing the same bank twice has been indicted on charges of attempted murder and carjacking in connection with one of the heists.

Jeffrey L. Garrett, 34, who faces bank robbery charges in federal court, was indicted in state Superior Court last week for allegedly stealing a man's car to use in one of the robberies. He was also indicted on charges of aggravated assault, criminal restraint, making terroristic threats and weapons offenses.

According to county prosecutors, Garrett carjacked a 61-year-old city man's Honda Civic on Aug. 23, 2011, before robbing the Chase Bank on Klockner Road.

The man was reading a newspaper in his car on Sanford Street when Garrett came up to him and forced him into the trunk of the car, authorities said. During the struggle, the gun Garrett was holding went off and a bullet grazed the victim's head. The victim was stuffed into the trunk and was eventually able to crawl out of the car when it was abandoned in Burlington County.

Garrett then allegedly robbed the bank, shooting a teller during the heist, authorities said.

His DNA was allegedly found on a black cap he had ditched after the heist, police said.
It was the same bank he had robbed Nov. 10, 2010, authorities said.

Garrett, who is being held without bail, was nabbed by federal agents in Florida last October. In November, Garrett pleaded not guilty to the bank robbery charges in federal court.